Plastic embedded labeled articles

ABSTRACT

ARTICLES PRIMARILY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ARE EMBEDDED IN PLASTIC TOGETHER WITH LABELS AND POINTERS OF LEAD LINES FROM THE LABELS TO SPECIFIC REGIONS OR STRUCTURES OF THE EMBEDDED ARTICLE.

Oct. 19, 1971 5.5mm

2 PLASTIC EMBEDDED LABELED ARTICLES "Filed may 14. 1969 M/VE/UTORS,

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United States Patent Oflice 3,613,265 PLASTIC EMBEDDED LABELED ARTICLESElliott Stern, Coral Gables, Fla. (704 Tease] Drive, Kingsport, Tenn.37660), and Richard L. Aaron, 11340 SW. 47th Terrace, Miami, Fla. 33165Filed May 14, 1969, Ser. No. 824,527

Int. Cl. G09b 23/00 US. Cl. 35-20 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREArticles primarily for educational purposes are embedded in plastictogether with labels and pointers or lead lines from the labels tospecific regions or structures of the embedded article.

This invention relates to plastic embedded labeled articles and tomethods for the preparation thereof. More particularly this inventionrelates to embedded articles, and especially biological specimens foreducational purposes, which are provided with embedded labels andpointers, or lead lines from the labels to specific regions, structures,or subdivisions of the embedded specimen.

Embedding articles or biological specimens in transparent materials as ameans of preservation or for reference and study is known. However,serious limitations exist in that the usefulness of the embedded articleor specimen is restricted to study on a general level because that is noconvenient way to refer precisely to specific regions, structures, orsubdivisions of the specimen. For instance, if a plurality of coins areembedded in plastic, it is quite a simple matter to refer to one of thecoins in a general way; however, with reference to the coin face, it isdifficult to refer precisely to the arc of the nose of the image, as anexample, in instructing. This limits the use of such devices forteaching so long as lead lines are not available to the precise area ofdiscussion and to which the instructor desires to focus the attention ofa student. According to our invention a specimen is embedded similarlyto standard existing methods but with the added feature that labels, andpointers or lead lines directing from the labels to specific regions,structures and subdivisions of the specimen are likewise embedded,thereby overcoming the limitations of standard designs. Plastic embeddedlabeled articles expand the usage of embedded articles toincludedissected and whole biological specimens for reference, study, testing,and autotutorial applications.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide specimens labeledand embedded in plastic material that can be produced at a costcomparable with that of nonlabeled specimens in plastic material.

Another object of this invention is to provide fairly permanent plasticembedded labeled specimens that will benefit instructors by providingpointers leading from the labels to specific regions, structures, orsubdivisions of the specimens. Such depiction allows the student torefer to the plastic block for clarification at any time and, therefore,may be used in crowded laboratories or for self-study (autotutorial)laboratory experiences.

A further object of this invention is to provide materials that will beclearly labeled and preserved for use in testing situations. It iscommon for instructors to prepare and dissect test material from freshor preserved specimens and label as desired, but such preparations aresubject to drying, mutilation, and tampering during the course of thetest. Use of the present invention by instructors would eliminate costlytime losses that occur with current testing procedures.

The transparent plastic embedded labeled specimen of Patented Oct. 19,1971 this invention consists of a transparent plastic block of variablesize in which there is embedded:

(1) A scientific specimen or article;

(2) Labels depicting specific regions, structures or subdivisions of thespecimen or article; and

(3) Pointers leading from the labels to the specimen, the labels lyingin a plane generally diiferent from and parallel to the plane containingthe specimen.

A fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to thefollowing description and claims, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings. Hereinafter the discussion will be, forillustrative purposes, with reference to a zoological specimen. However,it will be understood that this invention finds application in manyother fields, wherein small articles are embedded in plastic.

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a labeled specimen mounted in asolid plastic block.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the labeled mounted specimen ofFIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a zoological specimen 3 is embedded in a block ofsolid transparent plastic 4. Labels 1A, l-B, 1-C, 1-D, 1-E, 1F, 1-G, 1H,and 1-I suitably describe or define the regions, structures orsubdivisions of the specimen 3. Pointers 2 extend from the labels 1 tothe specimen 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the block 4 is made up of a fused composite of: asupporting layer 7, a specimen retaining layer 6 and a covering layer 5;labels carrying identifying insignia are placed between the layers 5 and6. The covering layer 5 is added to protect the labels 1 and the ends ofthe pointers 2 from abuse, wear and corrosion.

The labels 1 are made from standard papers or any other suitable labelmaterial which is compatible with the plastic used in preparing theblock 4. The labels may be opaque or transparent, and of any color.Indicia are applied to the labels, as desired. The ink used for writingor printing the indicia, such as an insignia, on the labels is indelibleink which must likewise be compatible with the plastic used for theblock. India ink is usually preferred.

The label pointers 2 are preferably made from insect pins, but may bemade from any other moderately soft fine wire. Prior to the formation ofthe. retaining layer, label pointer pins are secured so as to point to aspecific region, structure or subdivision of the specimen so that theresulting angle to the specimen is the desired angle for the finishedlabel.

The specimen 3 may be any specimen that has been properly prepared forthe embedding process. The means of preparation depends on the nature ofthe specimen, as will be described hereinafter.

The block 4 is made from a clear-setting plastic resin, preferably onethat polymerizes with minimal exothermic properties at the time of useto form a clear transparent solid block. A suitable catalyst ispreferably used to promote polymerization. A number of plastics arecommercially available for this purpose, such as acrylic monomer,polyester resins or styrene casting resins. Polyester resins arepreferred.

The specimen must be carefully prepared. The specimen to be embedded inthe plastic should be clean and The color and shape of most flowers canbe preserved by methods well known in the art. Best results are obtainedwhen the specimens are immersed in the preserving solution soon aftercutting. The preserving solution is usually tertiary butyl alcohol usedtogether with thiourea, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate,sodium sulfite, peracetic acid, and the like.

When the specimen is removed from the preserving and dehydratingsolution, it is drained for a minute or two to remove the excesssolution, and is then placed in a drier to evaporate the volatileportions of the solution from which it has been just removed. Thespecimen is then dried, suitably in a gravity or mechanical convectiontype of oven, the temperature of the oven being maintained between 45and 60 C.

Embedding is accomplished by polymerizing a supporting layer 7 ofplastic for the specimen 3; then a specimen retaining layer 6surrounding the specimens and finall a covering layer 5. If the specimenis heavier than the plastic, or will stick to the supporting layer, thepreparation of the supporting layer 7 and the specimen retaining layer 6can be combined in a single step. The specimen is positioned in acasting mold using label pointing pins 2 as mooring lines to secure thespecimen in place. Catalyst or promote means is then added if and asneeded to the plastic for the specimen-retaining layer, and is stirredgently with a clean, dry stirring rod to mix thoroughly. This plastic isthen poured over and around the secured specimen. After thepolymerization of the plastic has progressed sufficiently, the remainderof the label pointing pins are inserted at the desired angle to denotethe less substantial subdivisions of the specimen, The ends of all thepins, that is all pin heads, should be above the surface of theembedding layer 6 at this time. The polymerization is then allowed to goto completion. The embedding layer containing the specimen is then heatcured, preferabl at 60i3 C. in a controlled oven and removed from themold. The heads of the pins or pointer elements are then cut off nearthe top surface of the embedding layer 6 and the top surface of thelayer is sanded until very fiat. This should bring the shanks of thepins down until they are flush with the surface of the layer. The labels1 are then placed near the flush ends of the pins in generally parallelposition to the bottom of the mold. Any insignia printed on the labelwill face upward from the bottom of the mold. The labels are thenafiixed to the embedding layer by using a droplet of uncatalyzed plasticbeneath each label to secure its position and then adding a droplet ofcatalyst to the surface of the label. Capillary action will deliver thecatalyst to the droplet of plastic beneath the label, thereby hardeningand attaching the label in the desired position. A short heat-curingpreferably at 60i3 C. permanently affixes the labels 1 to the embeddinglayer 6. The block is then returned to the casting mold, and a coveringlayer is added, polymerized and heat-cured. The total block is thenremoved, sanded, and polished.

The invention also includes within its scope the process for preparingthe plastic embedded labeled specimen.

While the article and process have been described with particularreference to teaching specifics of embodiments, it will be appreciatedthat variations from the details given can be effected without departingfrom the invention which is of the provision of the pointers leading tothe specific portions of the embedded subject.

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic embedded labeled article comprising a substantiallytransparent plastic block having embedded therein:

(a) an article or specimen;

(b) labels lying in a plane above the article or specimen; and

(c) pointers leading from said labels to regions or structures of saidarticle or specimen.

2. The plastic embedded labeled article of claim 1 wherein said block ismade of a polyester resin.

3. The plastic embedded labeled article of claim 1 wherein said labelsbear insignia depicting specific regions, structures or subdivisions ofsaid article or specimen.

4. The plastic embedded labeled article of claim 3 wherein said labelsare transparent.

5. The plastic embedded labeled article of claim 1 wherein said block ismade of an acrylic resin.

6. A process for preparing a plastic embedded labeled article whichcomprises the steps of:

(a) surrounding an article or specimen to be embedded with unpolymerizedplastic material in a mold to form an article or specimen retaininglayer;

(b) holding said article or specimen in the mold at a predeterminedposition with one or more pin means extending from the article orspecimen at an angle; said pin means comprising at least one elongatewirelike element;

(c) adding catalyst as and if needed to promote polymerization of theplastic, and heat curing as needed to complete the polymerization;

(d) removing the cured plastic block from the mold, cutting off thedistal ends of the pin means near the surface of the embedding layer,and smoothing the surface;

(e) placing labels near the flush ends of the pin means in a positiongenerally parallel to the bottom of the mold; and affixing said labelsto the embedding layer;

(f) returning the resulting block to the casting mold,

covering with unpolymerized plastic, and polymerizing said plastic; andthen (g) removing the entire block from the mold.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the plastic material used is apolyester resin.

8. The process of claim 6 wherein step (a) is carried out in two stagesby preparing first a supporting layer of polymerized plastic and thenthe article or specimen retaining layer.

9. The process of claim 6 wherein said pins of step (b) have heads whichare positioned above the surface of said embedding plastic, and whereinsaid heads of the pins are cut off in step (d).

10. The process of claim 6 wherein said labels in step (e) have insigniaon the surface of the label which faces the top of the mold.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,084,391 4/1963 Parstorfer264-277 X 3,416,240 12/1968 Barber 35 -19 A OTHER REFERENCES CarolinaBiological Supply Co., Catalogue No. 37,

-recd July 18, 1967, pp. 391, 392, 394, 401 only.

HARLAND S. SKOGQUIST, Primary Examiner

